The other day, I found myself mentally composing a laundry list of all of the things I don’t love above this stay-at-home order our Governor recently imposed upon our state. Suddenly, I find that I’m complaining about a lot of things I wouldn’t ordinarily fret about because now I’m being told what I can and cannot do.
Like so many others, complaining comes easily to me. Lest you judge me, how many of us B.C. (before Corona) were in the habit of complaining about our busy schedules? So much to do, so little time. We whined about our daily work commutes or the drop-off or pick-up lines at school and after-school practices and games. How many of us procrastinated about going grocery shopping or visiting a loved one in a nursing home, or just visiting someone in general?
The list of complaints is endless. All of a sudden, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis – our lives have completely changed and the very things we grumbled about, are now the things we miss the most. At least this much is true for me.
Being quarantined has definitely helped me appreciate things I took for granted. I miss going to the movies and dining out. I miss “real people.” I miss family game nights. I miss hugging.
While the enemy is doing his best to bring us down with statistics and widespread panic and fear, I believe that if we stop complaining long enough – we can see the hand of God at work in this unprecedented crisis. God is using this pandemic to bring us together as families again. Quarantine has stripped away all of our usual distractions and has forced us to see life through new eyes.
This pandemic has given us reason to focus on things that are truly important. Family, friends, church and corporate worship, to name just a few. Trusting in the Lord for our daily bread (and daily toilet paper) has made us cognizant of what it means to live life, one day at a time. Things are changing daily and we need Jesus more than ever. No one can predict when this quarantine period will end. No one knows when or if life will ever return to “normal.”
I pray that we can use this time to appreciate the little things and look for the ways God is at work. We need to take advantage of these unexpected lifestyle changes by trusting God for “our dailies.” We DON’T need to worry about tomorrow – because we simply cannot know what tomorrow may bring.
While a lot of the things we loved may have been cancelled – Easter will not be denied. Resurrection Sunday may look far different this year, but Jesus is still on the throne having been resurrected from death unto life – which is worth celebrating!
This year, may the world over realize that Easter isn’t about bunnies and colored eggs – but about our resurrected Lord who is trying to teach us a thing or two if we’ll stop complaining long enough to hear him in the storm.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)
Blessings in Christ – Kathy K.
I so agree. We are all getting different perspectives of what is really important!
I believe this pandemic will help us appreciate life more than we ever have before. Yes, HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD! Amen.
Thanks for your transparency. This helps me see more from a worldwide view. As Americans we are somewhat shielded, but we aren’t “immune” from this pandemic along with everyone. I have to trust God for things I took for granted. Once again what would we do without Him!
So true. Thanks for sharing.